Israel was established exactly 75 years ago based on the strategic understanding that every Jew around the world and Jews who were already present in Israel must establish a Jewish and democratic state of our own.
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Throughout the years since, we faced disagreements, national and internal crises, disputes, and conflicts, but we always knew that Israel stood above any disagreements we may have and acted accordingly.
We argued over core matters that were critical to all of us. Sometimes we reached agreements, and sometimes we remained divided in our positions, but we always kept the security of Israel and our unity as a people, outside our disagreements.
According to my understanding of the history of the Jewish People and having known all the components that come together to make us a nation, Israel's existence is dependent on our mutual understanding, our unity and peace among us.
As all Israelis know, Iran currently poses a central threat to our security. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is present and active in parts of the Middle East including Iraq, Syria and Lebanon and Tehran uses its proxies to carry out terror attacks against Israelis and Jews around the world, while it continues to arm them with advanced weapons systems, further challenging our security.
In the past, despite a conflict of opinion among top security officials, over our response to Iran in the international arena, in the region and even on Iranian soil, discussions among us were honest and responsible and would be held in order to reach decisions that would be acceptable to all, out of concern for Israel's security, which relies so heavily on our national unity.
The past few months have been, personally challenging for me, in a way I've never experienced encountered in my 42 years of service of Israel's security, starting from my service in the IDF, as a soldier and commander in a combat unit, and later in the various positions I held in the Mossad before becoming its chief, and finally, as the head of Israel’s National Security Council. Therefore, I’ve worked to the best of my ability recently to bring together people who hold diverse opinions but share the desire for dialogue, but regrettably, my efforts and the efforts of others, have failed.
I am overpowered by the sense of national responsibility stemming from my place as a son of the nation, a citizen of the state and a years-long servant of its security. After investing my days and nights for the past four decades, to bolster Israel's security, I write these words with an aching heart and out of real concern. I see that the disputes and disagreements, even if justified and correct, endanger Israel’s immediate national security and resilience
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Reservist sign declaration to refuse service if a judicial overhaul bill is passed
(Photo: Roni Green Shaulov)
I call on all those serving in Israel's security organizations, reservists and volunteers alike, to keep the dispute out of the IDF and security forces. At a time when the Iranian threat looms over us from multiple fronts, we must ensure Israel's security remains unharmed.
Therefore, as a ninth-generation Israeli, a grandson and son to veterans of the fight to build this country, and as someone who draws inspiration from the Jewish faith, and supports a Jewish and democratic Israel, I call for an immediate halt to the legislation and for dialogue.